Prayer Revolution: A 14-Day DevotionalSýnishorn

Jesus Prayed at All Times

We leave our busy lives to pray, but Jesus left His praying life to be busy: “Even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:15–16).

At every critical juncture, Jesus turned to prayer: “He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles” (Luke 6:12–13). For Jesus, prayer initiated every advance in the Lord's kingdom. The author Luke took the time to present this fact with indisputable detail. 

How much more should this become true of us? How foolish for us to make our important plans and decisions with little or no prayer! Planning for the future moves us from anxiety and uncertainty to adventure and opportunity when we immerse our decision-making in prayer. As we pray and fast, we partner with Christ, and we learn to yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

While Praying, Jesus Was Transfigured

Prayer is the environment for transfiguration: “About eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white” (Luke 9:28–29).

It is while He prayed that Jesus manifested His glory. It is in earnest prayer that Christ’s followers see the vision of His splendor and glory. As we pray, our vision of Christ is like looking at the sun in its full strength. Paul put it this way, “We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor. 3:18).

Time and again, Jesus retreated to be alone with God, and the disciples noticed. Eventually, they realized this man of prayer was the Son of God.

Someone once said, “We are what we pray.” Jesus’ identity is most clearly revealed as He prays. Likewise, when our true identity is revealed by our prayer lives, others cannot help but notice and turn to the truth.